Sotheby's and Tate

In partnership since 2012, Sotheby’s initially supported the annual Tate Britain Commission for over a decade. Our current High Level Engagement Partnership has since enabled ongoing activations with Tate expertise around the breadth of Tate’s world-renowned programme

I painting in the foreground of a gallery space with people looking at a different painting in the background.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti Hesterna Rosa 1853 Tate Bequeathed by H.F. Stephens 1932, featured in a Tour of The Rossettis Tate Britain, © Tate​ Photography

Sotheby’s and Tate: Our High Level Engagement Partnership

‘Sotheby’s is proud to be a long-term partner of Tate. Each year their dynamic exhibition programme captures the imagination of millions of visitors from around the world, demonstrating the transformative power of art.’

James Sevier, European Head of Contemporary Art, Sotheby’s

Following over 12 years of Sotheby’s support of the Tate Britain Commission, Sotheby’s and Tate have enjoyed a High Level Engagement partnership. With a programme of activities tailored exclusively for Sotheby’s, this partnership enables them to come together with Tate expertise on a year round basis, bringing Tate exhibitions to life and unlocking experiences only available to Tate’s Corporate Partners.

Through their partnership, Sotheby’s have hosted Curator and Tate expert-led experiences across the breadth of Tate’s galleries. These opportunities have aligned with Tate exhibition openings and major moments in London’s cultural calendar, enabling extraordinary invitations to gain intimate insight into Tate’s programme, including Paula Rego, Lubaina Himid, Life Between Islands, Walter Sickert, and Capturing the Moment.

As a charity, High Level Engagement Partnerships such as this are crucial to supporting Tate’s mission of championing access to art for all, providing vital funding for Tate’s core activities.

Sotheby’s: The Tate Britain Commission

From 2007 – 2019, Sotheby’s supported the Tate Britain Commission, an annual exhibition inviting a British artist to make new work in response to Tate’s collection of British and international art and to the grand spaces of the Duveen Galleries at Tate Britain.

Sotheby’s support allowed the Commission to become an annual event, placing engagement with contemporary art at the heart of Tate Britain’s programme. Previous Tate Britain Commission artists include Mike Nelson, Anthea Hamilton, Cerith Wyn Evans, Pablo Bronstein, Christina Mackie, Phyllida Barlow, Simon Starling, Patrick Keiller, Fiona Banner, Eva Rothschild and Martin Creed.

Sotheby's

Find out more about Tate Corporate Partnerships

Tate’s Corporate Partnerships are at the very heart of our organisation. Tate is grateful to all of our Corporate Partners whose generous support and commitment enable Tate to champion art for all.  

Corporate Partnerships range from supporting world-renowned programmes of exhibitions, performances or annual artist commissions to wide-reaching learning, research and community programmes, or collaboration through crucial conservation, collection care, digital or sustainability initiatives.

To find out more about the partnership we can build together, or to learn more about supporting Tate philanthropically, contact us at corporate.partnerships@tate.org.uk

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